Social Media Helps Children’s Literacy: BBC Report
Last month, the BBC reported on a recent study by the National Literacy Trust that directly links increased literacy skills with social media use. A quote from NLT’s director, Jonathan Douglas:
Our research results are conclusive – the more forms of communications children use the stronger their core literary skills.
The study cited social media’s ability to increase students’ enthusiasm for writing, and also debunked the notion that the shorthand style of texting and instant messaging used by students hurts their ability to write in a more formal manner.
I’m certain that over the next few years, we’ll continue to see studies supporting both sides of the argument.
What are you seeing in the students and children you know? Outside of school, where and how else are they writing? Does their use of social media seem to be fueling their excitement for writing?
